Learn More about IUI at Aspire HFI in Houston
If you have questions about intrauterine insemination (IUI), contact Aspire Houston Fertility Institute. Our team is ready to meet you right where you are in your fertility journey.
Artificial Insemination at Aspire Houston Fertility Institute
Also known as artificial insemination, intrauterine insemination (IUI) involves the insertion of sperm into the uterus. It may be performed using either the partner’s sperm or donor sperm. It is frequently indicated as a treatment for male factor infertility caused by a low sperm count, poor sperm motility (movement), or irregular sperm morphology (shape and size).
Who is a Candidate for IUI?
IUI is often recommended for individuals and couples with:
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Mild male factor infertility
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Unexplained infertility
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Cervical factor infertility
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Ovulatory disorders
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Same-sex female couples or single women using donor sperm
To be a good candidate for IUI, you should have at least one open fallopian tube, normal or mildly impaired sperm, and a healthy uterine environment.
Ovulation Induction and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
IUI and ovulation induction are two non-surgical fertility treatments offered at Aspire Houston Fertility Institute to improve the likelihood of fertilization. By combining fertility treatments such as ovulation induction and IUI, the physicians at our Houston fertility clinic can achieve outstanding success rates. Similar to ovulation induction, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation is used as part of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle to encourage the maturation of multiple ovarian follicles.
Monitoring During an IUI Cycle
Throughout an IUI cycle, your care team will monitor your ovulation through ultrasounds and bloodwork to track hormone levels and follicle development. Timing is key – insemination is scheduled around ovulation, which may be triggered with medication to optimize the chance of success.
Common Fertility Medications Used with IUI
IUI is often combined with fertility medications to improve outcomes. These may include:
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Clomiphene citrate (Clomid) – to stimulate ovulation
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Letrozole (Femara) – another oral ovulation stimulator
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Gonadotropins – injectable medications that help develop multiple follicles
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hCG – a trigger shot used to induce ovulation at the optimal time
Your physician will recommend a medication protocol based on your diagnosis and response to treatment.
How IUI Works
Following intercourse, only a small proportion of the sperm ascend the female genital tract. The goal of IUI is to increase the quantity of sperm that reach the fallopian tubes and thereby facilitate fertilization.
Before the IUI procedure, the sperm are washed and placed into a small volume of sterile medium. This is injected directly into the uterus via a soft, thin catheter. This portion of the procedure is comparable in sensation to a Pap test. Patients are typically able to resume normal activity immediately after the IUI procedure.
For IUI to be effective, the patient must have normal ovulation, open fallopian tubes, and a normal uterine cavity. Ovulation induction with fertility drugs may be indicated for individuals with ovulatory disorders or irregularities.
What are the success rates of IUI?
Like many fertility treatments, IUI is not one-size-fits-all. Your chances of success depend on several personal factors – your age, medical history, sperm quality, and whether medications are used to stimulate ovulation. For patients under 35, success rates typically range from 10–20% per cycle, gradually decreasing with age. These numbers may sound modest, but they’re similar to the odds of conceiving naturally.
At Aspire HFI, we don’t believe in guesswork. We design every IUI cycle around your specific needs, optimizing timing and treatment protocols to give you the best possible chance. And if IUI doesn’t lead to pregnancy right away, we’ll help you reassess and adjust, always with compassion, honesty, and your goals in mind.
We’re here to walk this path with you – step by step, cycle by cycle.
Risks and Side Effects of IUI
IUI is a safe, minimally invasive procedure, but mild side effects can include:
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Cramping during or after the procedure
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Spotting or light bleeding
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A small risk of infection
An increased chance of multiples, especially when combined with ovulation-inducing medications
Lifestyle and Fertility
Your overall health can affect how well your body responds to fertility treatments like IUI. Healthy lifestyle habits that may support success include:
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Maintaining a balanced diet
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Regular physical activity
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Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol
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Managing stress through relaxation, counseling, or mindfulness practices
Our team supports a whole-person approach to fertility care.
IUI Cost and Insurance Coverage
IUI is often one of the most affordable fertility treatments and may be partially or fully covered by insurance, depending on your plan. Aspire HFI offers financial counseling to help you understand your coverage and maximize your benefits.
IUI Frequently Asked Questions
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An IUI — Intrauterine Insemination — is performed by threading a very thin flexible catheter through the cervix and injecting washed sperm directly into the uterus. The whole process doesn’t take very long. It usually requires the insertion of a speculum and then the catheter, a process that maybe takes no more than a couple of minutes [60-90 seconds to introduce the catheter, then sperm injection, and another 60 seconds or so to remove catheter — going slowly helps reduce discomfort].
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The sample is collected through ejaculation into a sterile collection cup. If you are collecting at home, Aspire HFI requires that the semen be delivered to the office within an hour of ejaculation. Otherwise, we provide a collection room in the office for the male to use.
There is a delay between when the semen sample is dropped off and when it is inseminated to allow for washing of the sample. The amount of time depends on the washing technique used, which takes 30 minutes to two hours, as well as on the clinic’s scheduling. In most cases, we will perform the IUI as soon after washing is completed as possible.
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Ideally an IUI should be performed within 6 hours on either side of ovulation. When timing is based on an hCG injection, the IUI’s are usually done between 24 and 48 hours later. If two IUI’s are scheduled, they are usually spaced at least 24 hours apart.
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Most women consider IUI to be fairly painless due the thin flexible cathetar — along the same lines as having a pap smear. There can be some cramping afterward, but often what is felt is ovulation-related rather than from the IUI.
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Our doctors recommend patients lie down on the table for 15 – 30 minutes after the procedure.
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We recommend patients take it easy for a while following IUI. Some people reduce their aerobic activity and heavy lifting during this time in hopes that it will increase the chance of implantation.
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This depends on your individual situation, but it usually should not be more than 72 hours since his last ejaculation in order to ensure the best motility and morphology. If low sperm count is the reason for IUI, it is generally best to wait 48 hours between ejaculation and collecting sperm for the IUI.
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Implantation generally takes place 6-12 days after ovulation — so 6-12 days after a properly timed IUI.
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This depends mostly on how the female is being treated. A natural cycle is often timed with over-the-counter ovulation prediction kits. The use of Clomid can increase the monitoring, but usually only requires a handful of visits. Gonadotropins [injectable medications] increase the necessity of ultrasounds and bloodwork, requiring more frequent office visits.
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It is sometimes also called sperm preparation or spinning. It is a laboratory technique for separating sperm cells from other supporting cells and fluid, and the separating motile sperm from non-motile sperm, for use in assisted reproduction [IUI, IVF].
The washing technique for near normal specimens is mixing the ejaculate after liquefaction with the appropriate washing medium followed by centrifugation [a centrifuge is a machine that separates materials with different densities by spinning them at high speed] The supernatant is discarded and the sediment [sperm rich fraction] is re-suspended in more washing medium. This process is repeated 2-3 times maximum. In the final wash, the sediment is re-suspended in 0.5 cc of medium, loaded into a syringe and deposited in the uterus.
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No. A tubal ligation is effective birth control because it prevents the sperm and egg from meeting. The natural process that leads to pregnancy is having an egg released from a follicle in the ovary and then beginning the journey to the uterus through the fallopian tube. Sperm will travel from the vagina, through the cervix, through the uterus, into the tube where fertilization occurs. IUI bypasses the need for the sperm to travel through the cervix. However it doesn’t get the sperm to the other side of the tubal ligation, so fertilization won’t take place. The only way to get pregnant after tubal ligation is by having tubal reversal surgery or an assisted reproduction technology that includes egg retrieval, such as in vitro fertilization [IVF].